Sub Vision: Back to Back to School - Part II

So, it turned up a lot better than I anticipated. I arrived at the school with a heavy heart, to find out that my first period was a conference. I slowly crept out the office, and then quickly proceeded to the classroom. There were no visible instructions for my first day, but it looked like someone had been there and put up the current date. As I looked around to find more clues, the classroom door was opened, and a young, unfamiliar, teacher entered the classroom. Our surprise was mutual, but soon it became clear; he is the new teacher, and since his processing not completed I was needed there. Yet, he wanted to be in charge and run the class.

Well, I am not a big ego person, and for sure, I am not stupid not to see an opportunity opens right in front of my eyes. I am paid not to do the work; he is doing it, probably without pay. So, I readily agreed (not before checking with the office that it is OK), and offered my assistance; helping distributing papers, showing presence when needed, and even providing few highlights from my math teaching experience, and opinion about the importance of reading. Delightful four days of being on the side and looking with critical eyes at what he is doing.

The truth, however, was not as easy to swallow. I was actually listening with owe to the way this young, new, teacher was building methods and structure to create the foundation for his teaching. He had a good syllabus with clear instructions and explanations of what he expects of his students; everything that I have ever tried to achieve with my students, all written down and spelled out, good ideas, logically explained, expectations with consequences. I was impressed!

So here it is – there is a wounded ego after all… Was I unsuccessful because I didn’t do all these things? Did I not lay a strong, sound, foundation since the beginning? Was I not organized enough to have a stable system, one that my students were able to accept and follow, one that has clear expectations and consequences? Was my syllabus (I always had one) not clear enough?

I have to remind myself not to rush into self condemnation… I think of those nice two math coaches who supported me, years ago, during that tough semester. I was so excited on the first week, and boasted of how well I did with my students. They, knowingly, smiled and promised me – it will get worse! And it did - a lot worse…

My hope and wish for this young and new teacher is that his system, talent, hard work and excellent intentions will prove successful!

Sub Vision - Back to ‘Back to School…’

It is back to this time of the year, and, again, I am asking myself – do I truly want to do it? Am I really ready for another year of 5:30 phone calls, schools that refuse to deal with their actual problems, and a new generation of uninterested students?

A favorite school had called a week ago and asked me to start the school year until their new teacher completes his processing. I know better than rejecting a school that I like, so I agreed, but deep inside I questioned my sanity. I know what it means to start a new school year, been there done that… I had faced, in the past, fifty students being crowded in a classroom too small to contain them, let alone their desks… I had seen completely deficient rosters, with students checking in and out for weeks. I have had classroom assignment change on me several times during the first month, subjects switched, conference hour changed, or worse, taken away.

Obtaining teaching supplies is just as frustrating, and if you are new, especially in a big school, it may take months before you find out where to get what. So people like me – who hate a hassle, just go to the store and spend their own money, with a faint hope of one day discovering the right place for supplies or reimbursement...

Another big undertaking is books distribution. Once upon a time, not long ago, there was a textbook room where students would line up, and one by one be handed their books and sign a paper. No more. Teachers are now responsible for this function too (along with custodial, disciplinary, security, food distribution…).  This new duty includes bringing all the textbooks to the classroom (tens of books, each weighs many pounds), making sure that each is distributed and recorded on a special, bar-code numbers list. To say it is a tidies task is an understatement. Identifying the right label on the book (it always has several), finding the matching (small) numbers on the list, making sure students are writing their (real) name, distributing related workbooks, and later, handling exchanges, adds-on, drop outs.

Those blessed teachers, who are excitedly awaiting the start of a new year; their sacred energy already wasted on clerical burden, energy so needed for teaching...